Version 3.00 of the free logfile analyzer W3Perl has just been released, and includes a number of enhancements. Among other features, the program now supports weekly and monthly statistics with the same granularity as daily reports, and can email the results if needed.

Automated mails include statistics in HTML or PDF format. Another new feature: the download page now has a Debian package. Developer Laurent Domisse credits the updated RPM package to the Mandriva team.

The logfile analyzer, which is written in Perl, has been around for over 10 years, and is GPLv2 licensed. The program can be installed directly on a Web server, or alternatively on a desktop where it automatically downloads the logfiles for local evaluation. A CGI version gives Webmasters a browser-based administrative front-end.

W3Perl can interpret the Common Logfile Format (CLF), the Extended Version (ECLF) and the Microsoft IIS Webserver format, among others – a Windows version of the program is available. In addition to this, the package analyzes FTP server, Real Server and Squid Proxy server logs. According to the developers, you can even teach the program your own formats.

Related content

Splunk has mastered the art of finding truly relevant messages in huge amounts of log data. Perlmeister Mike Schilli throws his system messages at the feet of a proprietary analysis tool and teaches the free version an enterprise feature.

Logfiles contain records of what happens on a Linux system and the services it runs. Tools like Logcheck and Logsurfer filter out the most important events for the administrator, and they can even trigger an appropriate reaction automatically.